G/SPS/N/GBR/24  
 
17 January 2023  
(23-0397) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED KINGDOM  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and The 
Health and Safety Executive  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Lettuces (UK classification code: 0251020)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposed GB MRL for spinetoram in or on lettuce 
amending the GB MRL Statutory Register . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  19 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/GBR/23_0450_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The document outlines the proposed MRL for spinetoram on 
lettuces. It is proposed that the MRL for lettuces is lowered from 10 mg/kg to the limit of 
quantification based on the UK's draft assessment which can be seen at the following link:  
Review of the MRL for spinetoram in or on lettuces (hse.gov.uk)  
The UK specific ris k assessment demonstrates that the current MRL gives rise to acute 
exposures that exceed the ARfD (acute reference dose). Therefore, harmful effects for 
human health cannot be excluded and the appropriate level of protection has not been 
met. 
7. Objective  and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standar d: 
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : The codex MRLs adopted for spinetoram are available 
in the Codex Pesticide Residues in Food Online Database.  
The CXLs specifically for spinetoram are available here:  
https://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/codex -
texts/dbs/pestres/pesticide -detail/en/?p_id=2 33. 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/GBR/24  
 
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  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  The Codex MRL (CXL) for lettuce is 10 mg/kg. However, 
the UK risk assessment demonstrates that harmful effects for human health cannot be 
excluded for this level and hence it does not meet the UK's appropriate level of protection.  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 16 May 2023  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 16 May 2023  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) :  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 18 March 2023  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
UK SPS Contact Point, Defra, Nobel House, London SW1P 3JR  
E-mail: UKSPS@defra.gov.uk  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
UK SPS Contact Point, Defra, Nobel House, London SW1P 3JR  
E-mail: UKSPS@defra.gov.uk